University statement on unidentified chemical in Wells Hall

The following statements can be attributed to University Spokesperson Amber McCann:

April 28 statement (latest):

The university has made the decision to keep Wells Hall closed through May 1 to allow for further evaluation of the building and continued coordination to ensure a smooth return to normal operations. There continues to be no known threat to the campus community.

Exams have been relocated and rescheduled, and that information has been communicated to students, faculty and staff.

The health and safety of our community is MSU’s top priority, and the university encourages anyone in need to take advantage of supportive resources through CAPS and the EAP.

Updated statement on April 27:

The public safety matter at Wells Hall has been resolved and the environment is safe. Emergency personnel have cleared Wells Hall to open for normal operations tomorrow, April 28 at 7:00 a.m. The building will remain closed for the remainder of today, April 27.

We appreciate the understanding of our community as law enforcement and MSU Environmental Health & Safety worked to ensure the safety of our campus and we are grateful to MSU DPPS and state law enforcement partners for their collaborative efforts to resolve this situation efficiently and effectively.

Original statement on April 27:

The university has been alerted to the presence of an unidentified chemical in Wells Hall. While emergency personnel evaluate the substance, and out of an abundance of caution, the university has decided to evacuate Wells Hall. The health and safety of our campus community is our top priority. There is no threat to the campus at this time but we ask the community to avoid the area.